After three reviews, remaining objections over a carport designation kept the La Jolla committee from granting approval.
After three reviews, a project to demolish two homes and build two more in La Jolla received a vote for denial at the Jan 13 La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee meeting due to contention over the designation of a carport.
The plans for 7404 and 7406 Monte Vista Ave, presented by applicant representative Michael Morton, would demolish the existing structures and build two new homes, each 3,752 square feet, two-story single-family residences over a basement.
The plans would also construct a 800-square-foot accessory dwelling unit, a 1,300-square-foot roof deck, a habitable basement area and a three-car carport on each lot, according to the plans.
First heard Oct 14, the project received DPR trustee feedback that the homes looked commercial and resembled office buildings and Morton was asked to return with additional information about views, drainage and more.
At the second review Dec 16, Morton satisfied the previous questions but trustees became stuck on whether the identified carport actually qualified as such.
A carport, as stated in regulatory codes, must be open on at least two sides, but Morton’s design has a door and three walls, Leira said.
Renderings courtesy of Michael Morton
Morton argued the southern wall was only a partial wall and with the north side open, the garage-door like feature on the east still qualified the space as a carport.
If the space is a garage and not a carport, the area would count in the floor-area-ratio and push it over the allowable FAR.
“If you take the garage door off, then I could swallow the carport idea,” DPR trustee Angeles Leira said. “The way you have it, it’s not a carport.”
“The city [of San Diego] hasn’t said it’s not a carport, so we still determine that it is a carport with two sides,” Morton said.
After a lengthy debate, Morton returned to DPR Jan 13 with more definitions of a carport, but no specific confirmation from the city about the plans’ compliance with the guidelines.
Trustees’ concerns persisted, with some mentioning precedent and others expressing worry that the renderings still show a garage-like door, belying Morton’s carport claim.
“The issue is, is the carport already enclosed?” trustee Greg Jackson asked. “And if it is already enclosed, then it should count for FAR.”
“We believe that we have fully interpreted the code correctly,” Morton insisted.
DPR voted 5-0-1, with Chair Brian Will customarily abstaining, to recommend the city not approve the project in that it exceeds the allowable floor area ratio for the site due to the carport exemption.
